Closure operating means



Feb. 12, 1952 R. s. HARTMAN CLOSURE OPERATING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 3, 1948 INVENTOR. B SES. H4RIMAN ATTORNEY Feb. 12, 1952 R.s. HARTMAN CLOSURE ORERA'LING MEANS Filed Sept. s, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2mg Q EHIII k l,

JNVENTOR: RUSH ,5: MTMZIN ATTORNEY Feb. 12, 1952 R, HARTMAN 2,585,122

CLOSURE OPERATING MEANS Filed Sept. 3, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V ENTOR. fi RUSH s. HARTMAN ATTORNEY Feb. 12, 1952 Filed Sept. 3, 1948 R. S.HARTMAN CLOSURE OPERATING MEANS 4 Sheets-Shegt 4 I v INVENTOR: RUSH 5.HARTMAN ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 12, 1952 unites-sures PATENT OFFICE2,585,122 CLOSURE OPERATING MEANS Rush S. Hartman, Trenton, N. J.

Application September 3, 1948, Serial No. 47,572

'1 My invention relates to mechanism for opening and closing windows,doors, and other closures, and While my invention is particularly usefulfor actuating relatively large and heavy windows or doors such as thoseused in modern office buildings, factories, and apartment houses, it isequally useful as operating means for the ordinary casement windows andsimilar relatively light closures in homes and elsewhere. 7

Operating mechanisms heretofore provided for opening and closing doorsand windows have not generally been suitable for actuating relativelylarge and heavy windows such as those demanded by modern trends inarchitecture for oflice buildings and elsewhere, wherein large and longwindow areas are provided and double glazing is used for insulatingpurposes. Even when prior operating means are employed for actuatingrelatively light weight casement windows, it is frequently impossible todraw the window into firm sealing engagement with the window frame. Ineither situation the loose connections heretofore provided havepermitted the window to rattle and vibrate or even to be torn loose in ahigh wind.

A further objection to operating mechanisms of the prior art arises fromtheir complicated and expensive construction, especially when designedfor use with heavy windows. Thus for example when the mechanism isactuated by means of a crank and gears, it is necessary to useaccurately machined parts and heavy constructions to withstand theforces applied thereto. Even then the wear and distortion of elementsafter short periods of operation often render the parts loose orinoperative. 'l Moreover, when the operating mechanism is connecteddirectly to pivot means about which a window is movable or is connectedto the Window adjacent the pivot, there is always danger of twisting ordistorting the sash so as to prevent proper sealing or even to cause thewindow glass to break.

' In accordance" with the'present invention, these objections toconstructions of the prior art are overcome and novel windowbr closureoperating means are provided which are simple and economical to produceand in which the forces are so applied and distributed that large andheavy windows may be safely opened and closed with a minimum of efiorton the part of the operator. Furthermore, strains on the operating meansare reduced to a minimum so that inexpensive die cast or pressed gearsmay be used, and relatively light weight elements maybe employed withoutdanger of distortion. The construction is such as to hold the-windowor'closure firmly in place in any po- 11 Claims. (Cl. 268120) 2 sitionto which it may be moved, even when the window is large and is subjectedto a high wind.

These advantages are preferably attained by employing a combination ofan actuating arm and supporting link which are movable in such relationas to provide a strut or support for the actuating arm in all positionsto which it is moved. At the same time the actuating arm is controlledby a threadedshaft which affords a one-way operating connection thateliminates slippage and serves to prevent excessive strains on the gearsand other elements of the actuating mechanism when the window issubjected to a high wind.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel type of closureoperating mechanism which is simple and economical to produce and whichis easy to apply and remove.

Another object of my invention is to provide operating means wherein aminimum of effort is required to open and close a window or otherclosure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a closure operator with anovel arrangement of an actuating arm and supporting link which serve toimpart suificient strength and rigidity to the construction to permitits use with relatively large and heavy closures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure operator whichis capable of holding a window in a fixed postion and yet serves toprevent excessive strain on the operating means even when the window islarge and subjected to high wind pressures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide operatingmechanism which may be applied to a window in a manner to eliminate alldanger of twisting or distortion of the window and excessive strains onthe operating mechanism.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide a closureoperating means with a threaded shaft which is rotatable by a crank andgears to move an actuating arm and supporting link in combination so asto support and hold a window firmly in any position to which it may bemoved.

These and other objects and features of the present invention willappear from the following description thereof in which reference is madeto the figures of the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a portion of a typical window and operatingmechanism embodying my invention; v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the operating mechanism illustratedin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the construction illustrated inFigs. 2 and 3 taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of the construction illustrated inFigs. 1 to 5 indicating different positions to which the window may bemoved;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective of an alternative form ofconstruction embodying my invention;

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating afurther alternative construction embodying my invention;

Fig. 8 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a portion of amodified form of operating means embodying my invention; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 3 showing the construction ofFig. 8.

.In that form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, the windowglass is indicated at 2 and is mounted in a sash 4. The sash ispreferably provided with a lower channel member 6, an upper channelmember 8 and a side member l6 which extend along the edges of the sashand have upper and lower pivot members l2 fixedly secured thereto formounting the window for horizontal movement about a vertical axis. Thepivot members engage complementary pivot means on the brackets l4mounted on the sill member it of the window and on the top header member(not shown).

The channel and side members may be part of and fixedly secured to thewindow sash but in the alternative the window sash may be pivotallymounted on the channel members adjacent the center of its upper andlower edges as shown and described in my copending application SerialNo. 521,451, filed February 7, 1944, now abandoned, so that the windowmay be reversed for cleaning or turned to any desired position to directair into the room where the window is located.

The operating mechanism of the present invention is employed for movingthe window 2 about the pivot means on brackets Hi to any desiredposition. As shown, the operating mechanism embodies a shaft 20 havingthreads 22 adjacent the end thereof remote from the pivot means andthreads 24 adjacent the end thereof nearest the pivot means. Aninternally threaded nut or carriage 26 is mounted on shaft 28 andprovided with threads complementary to those shown at 22 so that nut orcarriage 26 will move longitudinally of the shaft 20 when the shaft isrotated. A similar internally threaded nut or carriage 28 is in threadedengagement with threads 24 on shaft 20 and is movable along the shaftwhen the shaft is rotated. The threads 22 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 areof considerably greater pitch than the threads 24 and are opposite indirection so that rotation of shaft 26 will cause the carriage 26 totravel inward along the shaft 20 a relatively great distance while thecarriage 28 is caused to move outward along the shaft 20 a relativelyshort distance as the shaft is rotated to open the window. The carriagesmove apart when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction forclosing the window.

The shaft 20 may be rotated by any suitable means. As shown a bevelledgear 36 is secured to the shaft 20 and meshes with a complementarybevelled gear 32 secured to shaft 34. The shaft 34 is rotatable by acrank 36 through the key connection indicated at '38.

Shaft 20 is mounted for rotation in the end thrust bearing 40 and inbearing 42 which surrounds the bevelled gear 30. Shaft 20 and itsbearings are mounted in the channel-shaped housing 46 which is securedto the sill member [6 of the window by threaded pins 48. The carriages26 and 28 on shaft 20 are provided with rollers 50 which engage the baseof the channel 46 and are held within the housing by the inturned edges52 of the channel. The rollers serve to support the carriages 26 and 28and the shaft 20 so that forces applied to the carriages 26 and 28 in 'adirection at right angles to the shaft as seen in Fig. 2 are nottransmitted to the shaft 20 but are taken up by the fixed channel member46. In this way all danger of bending of shaft 20 or binding of thecarriages on the shaft is eliminated and the force required to rotatethe shaft and actuate the operating mechanism is reduced to a minimum.Moreover, the rollers in effect provide intermediate supports for theshaft at those points where it would otherwise be subjected to thegreatest lateral strains. The shaft therefore may be made as long asnecessary to insure the required travel of carriages 26 and 28 withoutweakening the construction.

The carriage 26 serves to move an actuating arm 54 which is pivotallyconnected at its inner end to carriage 26 by the pivot means 56. Theouter end of arm 54 is slidably and pivotally connected to the lowerchannel member 6 of the window sash. For this purpose the channel member6 is provided with spaced supports 60 between which a bar 62 extends. Aslide block 64 engages bar 62 and carries pivot means 66 to which theouter end of the actuating arm 54 is connected. The actuating armillustrated consists of spaced parallel strips of metal which are heldin spaced relation by the carriage 26 and block 64. Reinforcing studs orconnectors 61 also serve to strengthen the metal strips of the actuatingarm.

A supporting link 68 is pivotally connected at its inner end to thecarriage 28 on shaft 28 by pivot means 10. The outer end of link 68 ispivotally connected to the actuating arm 54 by pivot means 12 at a pointnear the outer end of the arm. The link 68, like the actuating arm,consists of a pair of spaced metal strips which are held in spaced,parallel relation by the carriage 28 and by a'bushing l4 surrounding thepivot means 12. Connecting studs 69 are also provided for reinforcingthe metal strips of link 68. The link 68 is movable about pivot 72within the slot formed by the spaced members of the actuating arm andboth the arm 54 and the link 68 are well supported and reinforced so asto resist bending.

With this construction, rotation of crank 36 causes the arm 54 and link68 to cooperate in moving the window sash about its hinge or pivot meansI2. In so moving the actuating arm itself rocks about the pivot means 12at the outer end of link 68 and is supported intermediate its ends andpreferably at a point near the window as shown in Fig. 5. By suitablyproportioning the length of the actuating arm and the supporting linkand selecting the location of the pivot means and the pitch of thethreads on shaft 20, the outer end of the actuating arm may be caused tomove through an arc of predetermined form. This are preferably is nearlyconcentric with the pivot means or hinge l2 about which the windowmoves. Thus, for example, as shown in Fig. 5 the pivot means 66 by whichthe outer end of the actuating'arm 54 is connected :to the window 2 willmove through the are 16 which is nearly concentric with the pivot I2 ofthe window. It is then only necessary to provide for very limitedrelative movement of the pivot means 66 along the window 2 and as aresult bar 62 may be short and sturdy.

, Further, as shown in Fig. 5, the movement of the carriages 26 and 28toward each other in response to rotation of crank 36 and shaft 20causes the actuating arm 54 and supporting link to move from a positionin which they form an obtuse angle to positions substantially at rightangles to each other. The window sash thereupon is moved about the pivotl2 through successive positions indicated on are 16 corresponding tosuccessive equal increments of movement of the carriages 26 and 28 alongshaft 20. The numbered positions on arc 16 are those to which the pivotmeans 66 on the outer end of the actuating arm 54 is moved and sincethis pivot means moves with the window, the numbered positions actuallyindicate the positions of the window itself. It will be noted from thesepositions on are 16 that the movement of the window is greater for eachincrement of movement of the carriages 26 and 28 during the initialstages of opening the window than in the later stages of movement whenthe window approaches its fully opened position. The power applied inrotating the crank 36 and shaft 20 is therefore multiplied to a greaterextent as the window opens and this increase in power compensates forthe increase in load due to the raising of a horizontally pivoted windowor the increase in wind pressure on a vertically pivoted window.Therefore the effort required to rotate crank 36 and the strains imposedon the gears and other elements of the operating means are substantiallyuniform although the load increases materially. Furthermore, the limitedforces exerted on the gears renders it possible to use inexpensive diecast or pressed gears so that the machining and cost of the elements ofthe construction is reduced considerably.

Moreover, as the window approaches a fully opened position in which itextends at 90 from the frame, the link 68 approaches a position at rightangles to the arm 54. The support for the actuating arm afforded bysupporting link 68 thereby increases as the window opens and when thewindow is fully opened the arm and link are positioned so as to providesubstantially the maximum support and rigidity for the window. This isof particular advantage in opening and closing large windows where windpressures become a serious factor as the window moves outward from theface of the building. Similarly when a large window is movable about ahorizontal axis, as shown in Fig. 6, the weight of the window is largelyor entirely supported by the operating means when the window is raisedtoward a horizontal position. The need for unusual strength and supportfor the Window and for the actuating arm then becomes very critical.

The structure and combination of elements provided thus serve to insurepositive movement and positioning of the window. Furthermore the pitchof the threads on shaft 20 is such as to afford a one-way drivingconnection so that there is-no possibility of slipping or counterrotation of the shaft and crank under load.. Therefore vibration willnot cause the window to change in position and it may be moved to.opened or closed position even in a very high wind.

.As shown in Fig. 6, the window. or closure may zontal axis or hinge.This construction also is typical of those in which two operating meansare employed, one of which is located at each side of the window asindicated at 18 and 80. Such operators are preferably actuated by asingle crank 82 located in any desired or convenient position andconnected to the actuating means through a suitable system of shafts andgears such as the centrally located bevelled gears 84, shafts 85 andcorner bevelled gears 86. Both of the operating means thus employed arepreferably. of the same construction and design and may be of the sametype shown in Figs. 1 to 5. Suchdual operating mechanism may, of course,be employed on vertically pivoted doors and windows and has theadvantage of insurin positive and similar movement of opposite edges ofthe closure. All danger of twisting or distortion of the window isthereby eliminated so that very large and heavy doors and windows can bemoved without danger of injury thereto.

As shown in Fig. '7, the present invention also may be used in movingclosures through an arc of approximately 180 or more if desired. In theconstruction shown, the pivot means 88 for the sash 90 is mounted sothat it projects outward from the sash allowing it to .clear any wallconstruction protruding beyond the sash when the window is closed- Theactuating arm 92 differs somewhat in shape from that shown in Figs. 1and 2 but is similarly formed to cooperate with a supporting link 94 inopening and closing a window with the minimum effort and strain on thewindow and operating means. The pivotal connection 96 between the window90 and the outer end of the actuating arm 92 is shown in this case tomove through an are 98 which differs in form from are 16 as shown inFig. 5. However in each instance the arc is generally concentric withthe pivot means about which the window swings and only limited relativemovement between the pivotal connection 96 and the window itself isrequired.

In the further alternative construction shown in Figs. 3 and 9, theinner end of the supporting link I00 is mounted on a fixed pivot N12.The remaining elements of the assembly are similar in construction andoperation to those shown and described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5.With this arrangement there is no shifting of the inner end of thesupporting link and the location of the outer end of the actuating armand pivotal connection 66 on successive movements of car riage 26 willbe those indicated by the arm I04 of Fig. 5.

It will be apparent from a comparison of the arch 16 and I04 of Fig. 5and are 98 of Fig. 7 that the movement of the actuating arm is insofiuencedby the shape and points of pivotal contogether, so long as thenecessary relative movement of the inner ends of the actuating arm andsupporting link is provided. .In all such modifications of my invention,powerful and positive operation of the window or closure is assured withoperating means which are economical to produce and install and easy tooperate.

Each of the forms of my invention described has a further advantage inthat the operating means-i c n ea ed and protect d' y-the sash when thewindow is closed, thus providing a neat ap ea an th n id and ou e- H w-'ever, in the event any part should break or stick or should need repairor lubrication, the window ash a era in m a m e mov d et e to. an x o eosit o in which the a t are accessible for work or inspection. Thus asshown in Figs. 3 and 4 the channel member,- 46' by which the shaft 20and carriages 2S and, 2 8 5.1? Carried is secured inplace by threadedpins 48 which extend through the wooden stool I36 of the window sill andinto threaded engage.- nient with an angle iron bracket or reinforcingmember I08 mounted in the wall adjacent the sill it of the windowopening. The lower end of pin 48 extends into a complementary openingin.

the lower bracket H0 secured to bracket I08. by rivets H2 or otherwise.With this construction it is only necessary to remove the pins 48fromthe stool I06 and brackets H18 and H0 where upon the channel member46 together with shaft 29 and carriages 26 and 28 may be moved with thewindow as it swings about its pivot means [2. As the window sash ispushed open thekey 38 in crank shaft H4 is disengaged from the shaft 34by which the actuating gear 32. is carried. The whole operatingmechanism. is thus exposed and may be lubricated, removed or repairedwithout difficulty.

The form of my invention shown in Fig. 2 also embodies an improved typeof support for the crank 36 by which the operating mechanism isactuated. For this purpose the crank 36 is connected to shaft H4 whichextends through a sleeve H8. The crank is rotatable in an outer bearingH6 mounted on the sleeve and is heldagainst removal by retainer H1. Thesleeve I I8: is welded or otherwise mounted to the bracket I08. Theshaft and crank are thereby supported directly by sleeve H4 carried bythe angle iron bracket I08 that also supports the channel member 46 onwhich the operating mechanism is mounted. In this way the crank andoperating mechanism are supported as a unit, and the crank shaft H4 isheld in accurate alignment with shaft 34 to which gear v32 of theoperating mechanism is secured. Moreover, looseness or bending of theshaft is prevented since forces applied to the crank are not transmittedto the plaster or other yieldable interior wall structure adjacent thecrank. Therefore the wall surface adjacent the crank is not broken ormarred by operation of the crank as it is when using those types ofclosure operating devices heretofore dedrawings and described above hasbeen chosen' for the purpose of indicating the nature of my inventionand typical applications thereof, and

is not intended to limit the scope of my inven'-- tion.

-Iclaim:

1. Mechanism for moving a closure about a pivot into and out of closedposition with respect to an opening; comprising an actuating armhavingmeans at the outer end thereof for pivotally connecting said arm to aclosure, a supporting having the outer end thereof pivotally con.-nected to said actuating arm intermediate the ends .Of said arm, arotatable shaft, means for mounting said shaft adjacent said opening,members mounted on said shaft and pivotally connecl gd to the inner endsof said actuating arm and supporting link, means for rotating saidshaft,,and interengagin threads on said shaft and members forsimultaneously moving both of said members toward and away from eachother on rotation of said shaft in opposite directions to move saidactuating arm about the outer end of said supporting link as a pivot formoving the closure to opened and closed positions.

. 2. Mechanism for moving a closure about a pivot into and out of closedposition with respect to an opening, comprising an actuating arm hav ingmeans at the outer end thereof for pivotally connecting said arm to aclosure, a supporting link having the outer end thereof pivotally con-.-nected to said actuating arm intermediate the ends of said arm, arotatable shaft, means for mounting said shaft adjacent said opening,members located adjacent said shaft and pivotally connected to the innerends of said actuating arm and supporting link, means for rotating saidshaft, and threads on said shaft engaged by both of said members forsimultaneously movin said members toward and away from each other onrotation of the shaft in opposite directions, the pitch of the threadsengaged by said members being different.

3. Mechanism for moving a closure about a pivot into and out of closedposition with respect to an opening, comprising an actuating arm havingmeans at the outer end thereof for pivotally connecting said arm to aclosure, a supporting link having the outer end thereof pivotallyconnected to said actuating arm intermediate the ends ofsaid arm, arotatable shaft, mearisfor mounting said shaftadjacent said opening,members located adjacent said shaft and pivotally connected to the innerends of said actuatin arm and'supporting link, means for rotating saidshaft, and threads on said shaft engaged by both of said members forsimultaneously movin said members toward and away from each other onrotation of the shaft in opposite directions, the pitch of the threadsengaged by said members being different and opposite in direction.

fl. Mechanism for moving a closure about a piyot into and out of closedposition with respect to an opening, comprising an actuating arm havingmeans at the outer end thereof for pivotally connecting said arm to aclosure, a supporting link having the outer end thereof pivotallyconnected to said actuating arm, a rotatable shaft, means for mountingsaid shaft adjacent said opening and at right angles to the pivot aboutwhich the closure is movable, members located adjacent said shaft andpivotally connected to the inner ends of said actuating arm andsupporting link, means for rotating said shaft, and threads on saidshaft engaged by said members for moving said members toward and awayfrom each other on rotation of such shaft in opposite directions, thethreads engaged by the member to which the actuating arm is connectedhaving a greater pitch than the thread to which the supporting link isconnected.

5. Mechanism for moving a closure about a pivot into and out of closedposition with respect to an opening, comprising an actuating arm havingmeans at the outer end thereof for pivotally 9 connecting said arm to aclosure, a supporting link having the outer end thereof pivotallyconnected to said actuating arm, a rotatable shaft, means for mountingsaid shaft parallel to a side of said opening and at right angles to thepivot about which the closure is movable, members located adjacent saidshaft and pivotally connected to the inner ends of said actuating armand supporting link, means for rotating said shaft, and threads on saidshaft engaged by said members for moving said members toward and awayfrom each other on rotation of such shaft in opposite directions, thethreads engaged by the member to which the actuating arm is connectedhaving a greater pitch than the thread to which the supporting link isconnected, and said threads being opposite in direction.

6. In combination with a window sash, pivot means about which said sashis movable into and out of position to close an opening and operatingmechanism for opening and closing said sash, including a threaded shaftextending at right angles to the pivot means and parallel to a side ofsaid opening, said shaft having two threaded members engaging the same,an actuating arm having its outer end pivotally connected to said sashand its inner end connected to one of said threaded members, asupporting link having its outer end pivotally connected to saidactuating arm near the outer end of said arm and having its inner endpivotally connected to the other threaded member and located at a pointbetween the first threaded member and the pivot about which the sash ismovable, and means for rotating said shaft to move said threaded memberswhereby said operating arm will be caused to move about said outer endof said supporting link as a pivot in opening and closing said sash.

7. In combination with a window sash, pivot means about which said sashis movable into and out of position to close an opening, and operatingmechanism for opening and closing said sash including a rotatable shaftpositioned parallel to a side of said opening and at right angles tosaid pivot means, said shaft having threads of different pitch near theopposite ends thereof, an actuating arm having its inner end pivotallyconnected to a member engaging those threads on the shaft which are ofgreater pitch and having means on the outer end thereof providing asliding and pivotal connection with said sash, a supporting link havingits outer end pivotally connected to said actuating arm near the outerend of said arm and having its inner end pivotally mounted on a, memberengaging those threads on the shaft which are of lesser pitch, thelatter member being located between the threaded member to which theactuating arm is connected and the pivot about which said sash ismovable, and means for rotating said shaft to move said threaded memberstoward and away from each other and to move the outer end of theactuating arm about said outer end of the link and through an aregenerally concentric with the pivot means for said sash.

8. A construction of the character set forth in claim 7 wherein thepitch of the threads on said shaft are opposite in direction.

9. A construction of the character set forth in claim 7 wherein themeans for rotating said shaft includes a crank, and said shaft and crankare independently and separably mounted adjacent said window opening.

10. A construction of the character set forth in claim '7 wherein themeans for rotating said shaft includes a crank, and said shaft ismounted for rotation in a support, and means for detachably securingsaid support in position adjacent said window opening.

11. A construction of the character set forth in claim 7 in which thereare two operating mechanisms, one located adjacent each of two oppositeedges of the window, and common means are provided for rotating theshafts associated with both operating mechanisms.

RUSH S. HARTMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS in the

